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PTTEP
PTTEP's gas business in Burma continues
Wed, September 26, 2007 : Last updated 16:14 hours

PTTEP Exploration and Production Plc or PTTEP on Wednesday still confirmed that the production of natural gas in Burma is now continuing at the normal rate.

Yadana Project is producing about 650 million cubic feet of gas per day (MMSCFD), while Yetagun Project is producing about 430 MMSCFD.

Exploration work at M9 Block is also progressing normally, the company said in the statement issued on Wednesday.

While saying that it has closely monitored the situation, PTTEP maintains procedures to respond to different situations at all projects in countries where the company is the operator or partner including the Union of Myanmar, to ensure that PTTEP personnel work in a reasonably comfortable and safe environment.
-The Nation

nationmultimedia.com

__________________
"Keeping quiet while monks and other peaceful protesters are murdered and jailed is not evidence of constructive engagement." - Arvind Ganesan, Human Rights Watch.

"I think...I think it's in my basement. Let me go upstairs and check" - M.C. Escher

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FM issues travel warning on Burma

Wed, September 26, 2007 : Last updated 16:35 hours

The Foreign Ministry has issued a travel warning for Thai nationals planning to visit Burma and prepared an contingency plan in case of violence erupted in the country where a nine-day demonstration was met with police crackdown.

Ministry's spokesman Tharit Charungvat said Wednesday, the ministry urged Thai nationals planning to visit Burma to take extreme caution.

Tharit said there are about 40 Thai citizens in Mandalay and 100 in Rangoon, the commercial capital of Burma.

Moreover, officials and transport vehicles are on the standby to carry out the evacuation if and when the plan is announced.

Meeting points for possible evacuation have been designated, the spokesman said.

The ministry, including other relevant government agencies, have been keeping a close watch on the development in Burma where communication has been extremely difficult.

In spite of the Burmese government's crackdown on Buddhist monks and laymen and the ban on gathering, government offices and business continue their operations, he said.

nationmultimedia.com

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In pictures: Mood darkens in Burma
Wednesday, 26 September 2007, 10:19 GMT 11:19 UK



Chaos broke out in the streets of Rangoon as Burmese security forces cracked down on anti-government protesters.




Police used batons and tear gas on the crowds, and there were reports of warning shots being fired.




Dozens of protesters, including Buddhist monks, were injured, and at least 100 people have been arrested. There have also been reports of one monk being killed.




On the ninth consecutive day of unrest, soldiers armed with rifles, batons and shields were deployed at strategic points in Rangoon.




Monks have been spearheading the protests in this deeply religious country




The military had warned the monks on Monday to stop their protests.




The monks have insisted that theirs is a peaceful protest, but the atmosphere is now described as tense and angry.

news.bbc.co.uk

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80-year-old disabled monk protester 'bashed'
From correspondents in Rangoon
September 26, 2007 08:25pm



AT least 17 Buddhist monks were injured when Burma's security forces violently dispersed their peaceful anti-junta protest today, witnesses said.
All 17 were injured around midday when police baton-charged a group of monks and mainly young protesters near the Shwedagon Pagoda, Myanmar's holiest shrine, the witnesses said.

Among the wounded was an 80-year-old monk who witnesses said was beaten about the head by security forces.

The elderly monk has participated in the daily anti-junta protests in Rangoon although he cannot walk and has to be carried.

Hospital officials have refused to comment on any injuries stemming from the crackdown.

snip

news.com.au

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Thai govt warned of possible influx of Burmese
Wed, September 26, 2007 : Last updated 17:53 hours

Leading Burmese dissidents urged on Wednesday the Thai government and the international community to prepare for the possible influx of refugees in case of bloody clashes between authorities and prodemocracy demonstrators in Burma.

Charm Thong, a member of the Shan Women Action Network (Swan), said a clear policy is Thailand needed in order to avoid any confusion if and the Thai border is flooded with Burmese fleeing crackdown.

Cham Thong pressure from the world community is welcomed but added that all eyes are on China, a member of the UN Security Council and Rangoon's closest allies.

The international community has urged the UNSC to pass a binding resolution to "put an end to the suffering of our people".

Dr. Cynthia Maung, an ethnic Karen refugee who runs a border clinic in Mae Sot district, said she is also preparing for the worst case scenario.

There are already about 150,000 refugees in Mae Sot district. Most are ethnic Karens who came with stories of rape and torture.

Meanwhile, the Internal Security Operation Command (Isoc) has ordered its regional commander along the ThaiBurmese border to keep a close watch on the development inside Burma.

Colonel Thanathip Sawangsaeng, Isoc's spokesman, said situation along the major crossing, including Mae Sai, Mae Sot and Hua Muang, were normal but authorities have been instructed not to be complacent.

by Subhatra Bhumiprabhas
The Nation

nationmultimedia.com

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More than 300,000 people protests in Rangoon,
Protestors grew in number despite junta's restriction
September 26, 2007

(Burmese Standard time)
4:05 p.m.

Civilians snatch back monks from security forces

Security officials have had to back-off and release monks, as supporters hit back security men who are arresting and loading the monks onto trucks.

As Monks from Bakara, Uhyin, Shin Ottama, Zeyawaddy, and Aung Mingalar monasteries began marching, at about 1 p.m (local time) security forces at the corner of Bakara street in Sanchaung township blocked the road and arrested the monks and loaded them on to a vehicle.

But the local people in Sanchuang enraged seeing monks being ill-treated retaliated forcing them to back off.

After security forces backed-off, the road was clear and the monks could start marching again.


3:45 p.m

About 30 soldiers with yellow ribbons around their necks led by a commander are marching on Bogyoke Street towards the 36th street.

The soldiers were followed by three army trucks.

The soldiers have now reached the 36th street and the protesting crowd is also slowly marching and approaching the soldiers.


3:35 p.m

"In Bahan, police are being very rude.

They kicked the monks, beat them on the head..

They stepped on monk who fell down on the streets," said a Rangoon resident to Mizzima talking about the crackdown on demonstrators near Shwedagon pagoda.


3:05 p.m

Soldiers fired warning gunshots at the protesters led by monks near the Sule pagoda.

And eyewitnesses said at least 10 more truck loads of soldiers have been brought in as reinforcement.


3:00 p.m

Near the Sule pagoda in downtown Rangoon, protesting monks and civilians remained silent as soldiers confronted them.

More onlookers joined the protesters.


2:56 p.m

Security forces have blocked the Kanna Street in downtown Rangoon.

As the authorities reduced the speed of internet connections, most internet cafes in Rangoon today closed shop.


2:30 p.m

Security forces fired tear gas shells and gun shots in Rangoon to disperse protesting monks.
snip
mizzima.com

chinthee

They obviously have strict orders not to shoot yet. Interesting the restraint being shown today, if you can call it that.

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afraid for tonight .............................

watterinja

I think the tipping point is close... No amount of ill-equipped military can contain 300,000 bodies.

Press on... press on...

bkkmadness

As I understand it local phone lines are being cut, and trucks are taking people away Lot of talk about informers/inside people sending out misinformation also.

From what is being read on this blogspot.

NIknayman

chinthee

A lot of people will just disappear from the face of the earth tonight, unfortunately.

watterinja

300,000? overnight? You sure? What about the other irate people?

chinthee

It's not the first time in world history it's been done. We're discussing genocide on another thread right now.

Mid

those without the sanctuary of a monastery are very vulnerable .............

chinthee

Even the Monasty is not safe. They will dress soldiers up as monks with AK47s under their robes. I suspect they will try to do this business in a way that is hardest to detect now.

watterinja

Folks, you are talking about people with a similar skill level & intellect to the Thai. They are not Nazis, by any means, however brutal.

chinthee

Point noted. They may not be as clever as we think. They may just consider themselves unaccountable and get on with the massacre.

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Protests in Rangoon
Breaking News - Live
September 26, 2007

(Burmese Standard time)
5:00 p.m

Mizzima has learnt that the crackdown on monks-led protestors in Shwedagon was carried out on the orders of several junta officials including Brigadier General Kyaw San, Minister of Information, Colonel Tint San No. (3) Regional commander, and Major Ye Zaw Zaw, the temporary commander of LIR (16).


4:30 p.m

Soldiers despised by civilians

As the protesting crowd advanced soldiers and the three army trucks which stopped them on Bogyoke Street had to move back.

Slowly the soldiers were forced out of the street until they reached under the Pansodan flyover.

Another group of people watching the scene from the flyover threw their shoes and dirt on the soldiers, a practice reserved for those who are despised in the Burmese community.

Mizzima News (Specializing News of Burma)

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Report: Myanmar army kills 5 protesters
Posted : Wed, 26 Sep 2007 12:57:53 GMT
Author : World News Editor

YANGON, Myanmar, Sept. 26 Five protesting Buddhist monks were killed Wednesday in Myanmar's capital and another 100 were beaten, an opposition group said.

A spokesman for the exiled Democratic Voice of Burma in Norway told CNN the military junta government was living up to its promise to "take action" against the demonstrations, which were in their ninth day.

British Embassy officials in Yangon, formerly called Rangoon, told the BBC of the beating of nuns and monks, and said tear gas was fired into the crowds and live rounds were fired over the protesters' heads.

The demonstrations began government's decision to double the cost of gasoline, prompting the government Monday to ban all gatherings of more than five people.

A New York Times correspondent said troops were taking up strategic locations in Yangon around monasteries and shrines to block marches.

Opposition member Aung San Suu Kyi, who lives in exile in Thailand, told Voice of America the government waited 45 days in the last major uprising in 1988 before quashing protesters, thousands of whom were killed.

earthtimes.org

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White House says reports of Myanmar violence 'troubling'
Published : Wed, 26 Sep 2007 14:14


NEW YORK (Thomson Financial) - The White House on Wednesday said reports of deadly clashes between anti-government protesters and security forces in Myanmar were 'troubling' and urged the military junta to respect human rights.

'The United States urges the junta to respect the human rights of the people of Burma and to move to a peaceful transition to democracy,' said national security spokesman Gordon Johndroe.

Asked why the White House had not condemned the crackdown, in which four people including three Buddhist monks were reportedly killed, Johndroe said the are ports are unconfirmed. If true, it's very troubling.'

abcmoney.co.uk

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India urges peaceful resolution of situation in Myanmar
Sep 26, 2007, 13:31 GMT

New Delhi - India has called for a peaceful resolution of the volatile situation in neighbouring Myanmar where clashes between troops and monks left at least five people dead on Wednesday.

India's Foreign Office spokesman Navtej Sarna said New Delhi was concerned about the developments in Myanmar and was monitoring the situation 'closely.'

'It is our hope that all sides will resolve their issues peacefully through dialogue,' he said.

'India has always believed that Myanmar's process of political reform and national reconciliation should be more inclusive and broad-based,' Sarna added.

India, the world's largest democracy and Myanmar's immediate neighbour has come under increasing diplomatic criticism for failing to use its close relations with Myanmar's military to pressure for political change in the country.

monstersandcritics.com


shame on the worlds biggest democracy

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Breaking news: UN Burma crisis meeting
The Northern Echo, UK - 13 minutes ago
The United Nations will hold a special session this evening to discuss the deepening crisis in Burma.

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Report: Five Buddhist monks, one civilian killed in Myanmar
Sep 26, 2007, 14:11 GMT

Oslo - Five Buddhist monks and one civilian were reported killed Wednesday in Myanmar when military attacked monks and civilians, the Oslo-based opposition radio station Democratic Voice of Burma said.

Witnesses told the radio station's reporter in Yangon of the events, the radio station's news editor Moe Aye told Deutsche Presse- Agentur dpa in a telephone interview.

In addition, about 150 people were injured. 'Some were beaten, some shot and some tear-gassed,' he said.

Unconfirmed reports said there were two or three other deaths, Moe Aye said.

The accounts also suggested that 'dozens of people were arrested,' he said.

The opposition radio station, funded by among others the governments of Norway, Denmark and Sweden, broadcasts via satellite and shortwave to Myanmar.

The situation was 'very tense' in Yangon while the radio station's information from the city of Mandalay suggested that demonstrations were staged without bloodshed.

monstersandcritics.com

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Protests draw violent response from security forces

Sep 26, 2007 (DVB)–Large-scale demonstrations in Rangoon have continued throughout the day, drawing violent crackdowns from government security forces with reports that at least one protestor has been killed.

About 30,000 people assembled in the vicinity of Sule pagoda earlier today, including around 2,000 monks.

Crackdowns by security forces at around 1pm dispersed the protestors, who then tried to march from Bogyoke road to Sule pagoda in small groups to reassemble, but were stopped by government forces.

In one incident, soldiers armed with sticks came from two military trucks and attacked a group of 15 to 20 monks at the Traders Hotel junction of Sule pagoda road.

Later this afternoon, government security forces armed with rifles and batons stood guard outside the fire station near the Sule pagoda road junction with Anawrahta road.

There was palpable tension between the soldiers and protestors, with people shouting at them and calling for peaceful negotiation.

“Some people made their way to the front of the group and shouted at the soldiers to go ahead and shoot, so they did, but they were warning shots, not aimed at the protestors,” said a local bystander.

The protestors started throwing sticks and rocks, which drew no response from troops, so the protestors moved forward, leading the security forces to shoot again.

Two shots were fired, but the protestors continued to advance, at which point the military fired machine gun rounds over the protestors’ heads.

The protestors dispersed independently at around 4pm.

As a result of the demonstrations, shops and government offices were shut down at around 2pm, and all government employees sent home.

Schools were also ordered to close.

Rangoon’s state-run radio station, City FM, broadcast regular announcements of an extended curfew in place from 6pm to 6am.

In Botahtaung township, over 2,000 monks, supported by thousands of bystanders, marched to Botahtaung pagoda, followed by security forces armed with shields and batons.

It is thought they had also been aiming to reach Sule pagoda in neighbouring Kyauktada township.

The protestors encountered a group of 40 soldiers with three military trucks who had set up a roadblock near the interior minister’s office in Botahtaung.

The protestors stopped there for thirty minutes before moving on without confrontation.

Reporting by Nay Htoo

english.dvb.no

bkkmadness

Some VDO of the protest.

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